Medicare in Australia
What is Medicare?
Medicare is Australia's publicly funded universal healthcare system. It provides Australian residents and some overseas visitors with access to a range of healthcare services, including medical consultations, hospital treatment, and prescription medications at a subsidized or no-cost basis.
Under Medicare, individuals can visit general practitioners (GPs), specialists, and other healthcare providers and have a portion of their medical expenses covered. In some cases, they may need to pay a co-payment, and Medicare typically covers the remaining cost.
Who can apply for Medicare?
Australian citizens and residents are automatically eligible for Medicare. To enroll in Medicare they will need to prove their citizenships/ permanent residency status; New Zealanders and applicants for permanent visas, ie. for partner visa 820/801, are eligible to apply for Medicare too.
For more information:
Medicare for visitors from Countries covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom. If you are visiting Australia from one of those Countries, you may be eligible to access Medicare during your stay in Australia; conditions and requirements different from Country to Country, though.
If you are from Italy, you are covered by Medicare for 6 months from the day of your arrival in Australia; if you leave and come back in Australia, you will be eligible for further six months. Please note that your Medicare may end earlier than 6 months if, for example, your visa or your Italian health card expires. To claim your Medicare insurance, you must complete an enrollment form, and provide evidence of your Italian citizenship, your Italian health card and your Australian visa.
If you are visiting from UK, you may be eligible to enroll in Medicare proving that you have been living in the UK before coming to Australia. You will need to provide evidence such as: your passport, either British or non-British, your Australia visa and proofs that you are a resident of the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. You will also required to fill an enrollment form. Medicare will cover you from the day of your arrival, and will end when your visa or your British health insurance expires.
For more information about Medicare for people visiting from Italy, UK and the other Countries mentioned above, please visit this page.
Please remember: if you are an international student in Australia, you must be covered by an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) even if you have a valid Medicare. Exceptions to OSHC apply for residents from Belgium, Norway and Sweden, who may still need to be covered by proper insurance from their own Countries.